Furloughs, unpaid holidays, smaller pay reductions and cost-cutting measures large and small were options discussed today to avoid a proposed 10 percent, across-the-board pay cut for Birmingham city workers beginning next month.

Representatives from Birmingham's largest departments --- public works, police and fire departments --- met with Birmingham City Council members this afternoon to discuss alternatives to Mayor William Bell's proposed pay cuts in the 2011 budget.

Bell's proposed $248 million budget calls for the pay reductions, major cuts to outside groups and nonprofit agencies, and closing five libraries and seven recreation centers in the fall. Salaries comprise more than 70 percent of the city's operating budget.

"At some level the employees will have to have some buy-in," said Council President Roderick Royal. "We do have to cut somewhere. The issue becomes now, 'what do we do about this proposal?'"

Dexter Cunningham, president of the Fraternal Order of Police, suggested more aggressive parking ticket enforcement and implementing landfill fees.

"We do nothing aggressive to get that money," he said, noting than 3,000 vehicles used the landfills in May and paid nothing.

In his own department, Cunningham said some higher level positions could be eliminated while preserving positions for street officers.

"I'm not after anyone's job," Cunningham said. "Through natural attrition and retirement that can come about."

While the council is in agreement the cuts are extreme, the group said city departments must shoulder some of the burden in the bare bones 2011 operating budget.

The group had previously set goals of eliminating the 10 percent cuts, retaining basic city services, restoring some funding to nonprofit agencies and evaluating sports contracts funded by the city.

"There was nothing in the budget except cutting the throats of employees and that is wrong," said Councilwoman Kim Rafferty.

Councilwoman Valerie Abbott defended Bell, saying he took a bold step in announcing extreme and unpopular measures to balance the budget.

"That took a lot of guts," she said.

Abbott said it is now the council's job to make inevitable cuts as bearable as possible.